Genetic Alliance Internships

Internship Program at Genetic Alliance

Genetic Alliance is an open and friendly environment where people are knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. If you are enthusiastic about a particular project, they are ready to have you jump on board. I got to explore the most cutting-edge and latest developing issues in healthcare and genetics, and I contributed to projects in a meaningful way, valued as a member of the staff.

– Claire Laudone, Summer '09 Intern

The Internship Program at Genetic Alliance has been in place since 1997. Interns make a significant contribution to Alliance projects, address critical policy issues, and explore opportunities for both career and personal development. All interns make meaningful contributions to Genetic Alliance projects and programs while providing an invaluable level of program and administrative support for the organization. We provide internship opportunities of varying duration, from semester- to year-long, in the areas of biomedical research, genetic counseling, bioethics, health policy, education, consumer advocacy, nonprofit management, electronic communication, and information systems. We attract individuals who are motivated, thoughtful, creative, and detail-oriented. Individuals in various stages of their academic and professional careers are encouraged to apply.

General Information

Qualifications/Requirements: Genetic Alliance welcomes applicants in all stages of academic or professional development—applicants do not need to be enrolled in an academic program. The organization does require, however, that individuals demonstrate through previous experience a passion for improving health systems to better meet the needs of individuals, families, and communities or have previous experience in the internship for which they are applying. Genetic Alliance internships are highly competitive and encompass work requiring prior knowledge in each specific program.
Location of Internship & Transportation: Genetic Alliance is conveniently located adjacent to the Van Ness metro stop on the Red Line in Washington, DC.
Address: 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 404, Washington, DC 20008 (See Directions)
Academic Credit: Interns may receive academic credit if an agreement is made between Genetic Alliance and the intern’s college or university. All interns are subject to the applicable Genetic Alliance Personnel Handbook.
Acknowledgments and Compensation: All interns receive a stipend to assist in travel and living expenses: full-time interns receive a stipend of $100/wk, and part-time interns receive a stipend of $50/wk. We gladly work with interns to accommodate class schedules, volunteer opportunities, degree requirements, and attending meetings of interest. Please contact Tanya Murza, Managing Director, at internship@geneticalliance.org for additional information.

Deadline for Spring Internships: December 4, 2011
Deadline for Summer 2012 Internships: March 25, 2012

Internship Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis.

Genetic Alliance Internship Opportunities

Design your internship experience around one or more of the following areas:

Library Science Internship

Genetic Alliance is interested in building a digital archive consisting of all historically significant documents and is seeking a creative and self-motivated intern to inaugurate the process. The Library Science Intern will be responsible for organizing all written documents, visual and audio recordings, and images into an easily accessible, online catalog. The intern will also work with the New Media Coordinator and Assistant Director of Health Communications to produce a video history and written narrative.

Individuals possessing library science and/or digital archiving experience, strong written and communication skills, and the ability to work independently as well as effectively with others are encouraged to apply.

Programs Intern

Learn how to collaborate with government, university, and nonprofit partners on projects that move the genetics community forward. Hone your research, writing, and logistical skills in areas such as family health history, newborn screening, genetic testing, and quality information for genetic conditions. Interact with our network partners through meetings, listservs, and webinars. Get involved in exciting areas of the genetics and health communities including health information technology and communal online resources and services. Genetic Alliance programs include but are not limited to: Community-Centered Family Health History, Disease InfoSearch, Consumer-Focused Newborn Screening and the Newborn Screening Clearinghouse, and Congenital Conditions.

This internship is valuable for those interested in genetic counseling, public health, medical school, nursing, allied health professions, health education, medical anthropology, community-based health work, and more.

Health Law/Health Policy Intern

Experience the exciting political environment of Washington, DC. Learn about all levels of health policy, from federal legislation and regulation to professional society recommendations and institutional policy. Dive into understanding how policy impacts health at each level. Write weekly policy bulletins for a thriving listserv, contribute to white papers, and attend meetings, briefings, and hearings on Capitol Hill and throughout the city with partner organizations. Collaborate on and shape Genetic Alliance programs, projects, and products. Join us to engage in health and genetics through the lens of policy! Genetic Alliance provides a spectrum of opportunities for interns in health policy, from introductory to rigorous and advanced collaborations with our Senior Counsel and President & CEO.

Translational Research Intern

Engage in cutting-edge program development, research, and/or writing with a variety of stakeholders in the genetics and health community, including advocates, scientists, clinicians, and industry. Interns will gain experience developing educational tools for a variety of audiences as this position spans basic and clinical research to translate sophisticated scientific concepts and materials to a non-technical audience. Peer-reviewed papers, white papers, surveys, tools, best practices, web-based training modules, and other concrete products will be developed in this internship. Translational Research Interns are encouraged to complete a final project.

Depending on the projects Genetic Alliance is working on, interns will have the opportunity to focus on one of the following areas:

Diagnostics – Focus on how genetic testing and research can transform health. Gain experience working with a diverse stakeholder group to help translate the promise of genomics into a reality for healthcare and disease prevention.

Drug development – Focus on how disease-advocacy organizations can engage in research initiatives and influence drug development. Gain experience with biobanking, registries, natural history studies, open access, privacy, and other related areas.

Health Informatics – Focus on how the power of technology and data repositories can facilitate the translation of research into treatments, open access to information, and improve informed decision-making in health. Craft training and educational models around data collection and gain valuable skills in data management and analysis and survey instrument development by working on projects for the Genetic Alliance BioBank, Disease InfoSearch, and the Trust it or Trash it? Tool.

This internship is valuable for those interested bioinformatics, biomedical research, clinical data management, genetic counseling, science policy, and more. A scientific background and strong communication skills are preferred.

Public Health Genomics Intern

Help us transform the emerging field of public health genomics. Genetic Alliance has strong ties with the American Public Health Association’s Genomics Forum and is engaged in a number of projects that will inform the future of public health for rare and common conditions. This position will reach out to other fields in public health, conduct research, and craft white papers on future directions for early disease detection and intervention. Join us in translating decades of research into the systems and services that will help keep individuals, families, and communities healthy. Genetic Alliance gives preference to applicants who are currently pursuing or who have obtained a public health degree or can demonstrate previous experience in the public health field, but all are welcome to apply.

Nonprofit Management Intern

Learn the ins and outs of nonprofit management in a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing its employees with innovative benefits and an open environment to facilitate personal and professional growth. The Nonprofit Management Intern will assist with special projects for the HR and Finance departments, including day-to-day clerical responsibilities and research and analysis. Projects may consist of ensuring compliance of federal and state laws, assisting in streamlining employee programs, researching funding opportunities and business tactics, analyzing and developing policies, and creating different types of staff training tools. All applicants must have the ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism and deliver in a fast-paced, demanding environment.

This internship is valuable for those interested in healthcare management, human resources and finance, human resource management, and more.

Social Media Intern

Reach across the nation and help expand the mission of Genetic Alliance through the use of consumer generated media. A social media intern will develop, implement and monitor successful social media campaigns resulting in real world outcomes. Setup, maintenance, and analysis of new and current social media accounts will help us transform health through genetics in areas that we have never accessed before. The intern will be responsible for building an organizational presence on social media sites, posting relevant articles, responding to contacts, creating original blog posts on topics of interest, and constructing a new social media strategy and market plan. Interns will gain valuable online marketing experience while helping Genetic Alliance revolutionize access to information and promote an environment of openness. Requirements include experience with social media tools, aggregators, and applications (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc) and proficiency working with Apple platforms as well as most mobile devices.

Application Process

International applications are welcome, however, Genetic Alliance does not sponsor international applicants for a work visa or offer assistance in relocation fees.

Exceptional oral and written communication skills are essential.

Each applicant may choose up to two positions for which to apply. Experience for each specific position must be addressed in a cover letter. Multiple cover letters are accepted for applicants applying for two positions.

Intern applications are considered on an ongoing basis. We offer single and multi-semester internships in addition to summer or yearlong opportunities. As our internship positions are competitive with limited slots for each internship type available, we utilize the following dates as deadlines for applications:

Deadline for Spring Internships: December 4, 2011
Deadline for Summer 2012 Internships: March 25, 2012

Application Materials:

Download and fill out the Application Form [Word 97].
One (1)-page letter of interest or cover letter (strictly enforced) – Please share with us how working with Genetic Alliance will advance your professional and academic goals. In particular, describe what skills you offer and those you wish to gain during your internship. Please also be sure to indicate which of the above internship opportunities you are interested in (you may list more than one).
Resume or CV
Undergraduates: Two letters of recommendation from professors or previous employers. Graduate students and professional applicants: names and contact information for three professional or academic references. Recommendation letters should be emailed to internship@geneticalliance.org either with the application or separately; whichever is preferable to the writers.
A three-to-five-page writing sample (excluding citations) – Samples should not be scientific research papers. Samples may be excerpts of longer papers. If a sample exceeds the limit, only the first three pages will be considered. In your email providing the above materials, please tell us why you have chosen this writing sample to submit with your application. You may provide more than one writing sample if you feel it necessary to demonstrate a range of skills important to the internship of interest.
Any forms relevant to fulfilling requirements for your school or external program. This may include forms relevant for receiving funds or a grant to supplement the internship stipend or receiving academic credit.

Submitting Your Application Materials: Because Genetic Alliance encourages environmentally friendly behavior, we prefer applicants to email their application materials to Tanya Murza, Managing Director, at internship@geneticalliance.org.

Thank you for your interest. We hope you’ll join us in our mission to Transform Health Through Genetics.

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